Katrina's effect is still very visible and is evident in the boarded up buildings and the rampant construction. Many advertisements on billboards and bus stops hint at the difficulties of business and returning to pre-Katrina days. One business commented, "We don't suck, but our sales do! Help us rebuild!" Thinking back, I can't remember what the business was advertising. Even the Ritz Carlton on the edge of the French Quarter had evident building damage. The way they tried to hide the damage was by hanging plywood and posting banners.
The French Quarter also had several condominiums for sale and apartments for rent, even within the same block. Now, it's impossible for Carl and I to know if this is due to the current economic situation or Katrina, or a mixture of both. Either way, the neighborhood has room for revitalization.
Neither Carl or I have been to Louisiana, so we deemed it necessary to try some Cajun/creole cuisine. Thank god we don't eat like this everyday. Fried Catfish, shrimp. Coleslaw. Rice and beans. Cornbread. Gumbo. Beignets. Mostly, we shared a single order as the servings were enough for two to four people at most places. I must say, it's was delicious.
To make it back to camp from New Orleans, we drove the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which is the longest bridge over water in the world (24 miles). The toll was $3.00 heading from Mandeville, LA (where we are staying) to New Orleans. Heading back to camp was free.
Tonight, we've decided to relax and kick back at camp as we have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow. We are planning to get up bright and early and drive to Tampa, Florida to visit my Aunt Kate. I haven't seen Aunt Kate it several years, however, I have fond memories of watching "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" and having Cabbage Patch Kid sleepovers at her house with the cousins. These are very fond memories of Aunt Kate and I cannot wait to introduce her to Carl.
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